The Cap Fits At Last

04 July 2013 04:39

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Not every player who played for Scotland has a cap to commemorate the event.

The SFA are trying their best to issue caps to ex-players who played for their country in the days before caps were awarded for all but British Championship games. The latest cap has been presented to Doreen Wilson, widow of Alexander Wilson, when she visited Hampden to receive her late husband’s commemorative cap for his appearance against Finland in 1954. Full back Alex, who spent 18 years at Portsmouth and lifted the Division 3 Championship in 1962, passed away in 2010 but his wife was proud to accept the honour, presented to her by the SFA President, Campbell Ogilvie and Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark.

She said: "I just wish he was here to see this, he would have loved coming to Hampden. He was a very modest man, however, so I’m not sure he would have enjoyed all of the attention."Doreen revealed she was unaware of her husband’s entitlement to a cap until visited by a local football historian, Neil Smith. She went on: "Alexander never mentioned it. He did talk fondly of his time with Scotland and treasured his international blazer badge, but there was no mention of an actual cap.”Smith was also in attendance at the presentation. He said: "This was never my intention when I set out to find out about players from Buckie who went on to play at a higher level. It has been a fascinating story to uncover. I’m just delighted we have been able to come to Hampden to receive this honour – an honour which no one in Buckie received except for him. It would have been even more special if he was here in person to receive it."Until 1975, a cap was awarded each season to every player who took part in the British International Championship. Players who played in World Cup, European Championship or friendly games, but not British Championship games, would not receive a cap. But in 2006, a SFA Board decision was made to award a commemorative cap to pre-1975 players who did not receive one under the previous criteria.